Lenten season: Worldwide observance

February 27, 2013

The First Presbyterian Church of Mineral Ridge is holding weekly Lenten services sharing discussions via Skype with different people involved in missions from around the world.

The mission workers who are overseas tell stories of what they have seen and done

"This is an opportunity to learn about what is going on as people share Christ's love around the world,'' said Pastor Jamie Milton.

Article Photos

The Niles Times / Bob CouplandThe First Presbyterian Church in Mineral Ridge is holding a Lenten series at 6 p.m. each Wednesday for the next four weeks at the church. The series includes a meal, service and guest speaker and several via Skype from around the world. Donna Nagy, at right, of the Girard Presbyterian Church shows items from her mission trip to Thailand to Carol Rummell and Tait Rummell of the Mineral Ridge Presbyterian Church,

There is time for questions of the speakers and for prayers. Meals are held prior to the start of the 30-minute service. Each week a different committee makes the meals.

Milton said the first week included talking with Canton resident Bill Yoder who has been serving in Thailand for 50 years.

At 6 a.m. Thailand time, Yoder spoke to the church members via Skype telling of what his mission work has involved and what he has been doing.

The series will continue for four weeks each Wednesday with dinner at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m.

"This helps us to raise awareness of what is going on outside of the church and our community. We will be able to talk to the people who are out of the country,'' Milton said.

The schedule is:

l Today: Austin Langley in Arizona who has served in Guatemala;

l March 6: The Rev. Jed Koball who serves in missions in Peru

l March 13: Kristen Mallory who serves in missions in in Honduras;

l March 20: Program on Youngstown's gardens program.

Milton said the series was held last year and although he is new to the church the congregation enjoyed the series so it was decided to be held again.

''The speakers share their mission work and personal ministry,'' he said.

Carol Rummell of Mineral Ridge Presbyterian Church said Southside Presbyterian, Liberty Presbyterian and Girard Presbyterian were all invited to be part of the Lenten series.

Donna Nagy of the Girard Presbyterian Church said in November 1997 she spent time in Thailand on a mission trip sponsored by the Eastminster Presbytery. At the time she attended Hungarian Presbyterian Church.

Nagy said she has been privileged to be on four trips to Ethiopia, South America, Thailand and India.

In Thailand, she remembers celebrations held on Leper's Island where the mission members went to work.

Nagy said when she heard of the series on Thailand she thought of what she saw and did and brought items to share with the people.

In Thailand, Nagy said she did cleanup and washed windows and met lepers who despite their hands were able to create hand-carved items.

Nagy said she remembers meeting Yoder in Thailand.

Yoder spent almost 50 years in the mission field all in Thailand. He served as a mission co-worker of the denomination for 42 years and upon retirement signed up as a long-term volunteer in Thailand where he continues to serve.